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Maximizing Efficiency in Cattle Feeding Operations: The Importance of Hillco’s Wrap Twine Remover

As cattle prices rise, efficient operations are crucial for profitability. In July, the average price for feeder steers at the Oklahoma City National Stockyards was ...
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Transforming Farm Operations with Hillco’s Air Flow System: Customer Testimonials

In the agriculture industry, maintaining equipment and ensuring its optimal performance is crucial. Hillco Technologies’ Air Flow System has been a revolutionary product for many ...
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Preston, Sales Director, and Kolten, Salesman, visiting with customers at the 2024 Spokane Ag Expo
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Hillco’s Innovations at Premier Agricultural Trade shows in 2025

Hillco Technologies is preparing to make waves… …at some of 2025’s most prestigious agricultural expos and tradeshows. With a commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that ...
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What’s Being Said About Hillco’s Pivoting Spouts?

The Hillco Pivoting Spout allows 37° rotation which controls the grain stream better than stock spouts, allowing enhanced maneuverability when topping off grain trucks and ...
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Hillco Harrows & Holding Tanks

Did you know… Each farming operation is unique, and Hillco’s Harrow and Spring Tooth Carts are designed accordingly- for versatile operations.A lesser-known fact about our ...
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The Rancher’s Plight: Plastic Disease in the Herd

Overview The danger of plastic ingestion by cattle, specifically the risks associated with net wrapped hay bales, cannot be overstated. This condition, otherwise known as ...
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FAQs: Wrap Twine Remover (WTR)

How many hydraulic remotes are needed to control the WTR? Just one remote or one third function is needed. We do not supply the two ...
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The Importance of Education

Based in the small town of Nezperce, ID… The issue of educating our youth about local job opportunities holds immense significance here at Hillco Technologies. ...
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Students of IDYCA outdoor line up during Hillco Technologies visit for job fair and practice interviews
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Community: Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy

Sunny and sixties surrounded by mountain tops and lush greenery, we arrived in Pierce, Idaho to prepare for mock interviews at the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe ...
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Unveiling the Steaks: Diving into US Beef Production for National Beef Month

Beef is not just a tasty morsel on dinner plates; it’s a cornerstone of American agriculture and culture. The United States is a powerhouse in ...
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Community: Job Fair in Kamiah, ID

In a bustling high school gymnasium filled with anticipation and opportunity, students from across our community had the opportunity to explore potential career paths with ...
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FAQs: Combine Air Flow Systems

Getting fed up… …with constant clogs and looking to increase the useful life of your combine’s air filter, BUT want to know more before upgrading?  ...
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FAQs: Wrap Twine Remover Bale Types

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Franklin D. Roosevelt As the Wrap Twine Remover continues its advance ...
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CASE- IH Pivoting Spout
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Hillco’s New Pivoting Spout: Case IH Combines

Ask and you shall receive… Hillco Technologies has been inundated with questions regarding a pivoting spout for Case IH combines. This hype was the aftermath ...
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FAQs: Blade & Hooks of the Wrap Twine Remover

The Wrap Twine Remover (WTR) from Hillco Technologies is gaining traction on the market. All this interest has spurred some conversations and customers have started ...
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FAQs: Tractor Air Flow Systems

Tired of constant clogs and looking to increase the useful life of your tractor’s air filter, BUT want to know more before upgrading?  Here we ...
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Pivoting Spout: Comparison

Adjustable auger spouts serve an irreputable purpose in the process of grain loading. With their growing popularity, additional manufacturers are entering the market. For anyone ...
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Sales Director for Hillco Technologies at 2024 Iowa Ag Expo
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Ag Conference Attendance for 2024

“Excuse me miss; may I make a suggestion?” I look up from rolling posters to find a kindly gentleman on the other side of our ...
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The Wrap Twine Remover: A Commitment to Safety

We care about your safety! The Wrap Twine Remover (WTR) has taken the ranching industry by storm since its test-launch in 2021. It endured rigorous ...
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Food for Thought: Digestible Baling

While the idea of digestible, ecofriendly baling presents several advantages, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations both in the context of wrapping hay bales ...
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Utilizing the Hillco Harrow in the Spring, Summer, and Fall

Seasonality of agriculture equipment is a real thing. When considering a new purchase, of often high-ticket items, farmers weigh the pros and cons of just ...
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What’s Being Said about Hillco’s Air Flow Systems?

Hillco Air Flow Systems for Case IH combines and Case IH and New Holland tractors are performing exceedingly well in the field. In the past ...
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Celebrating 30 Years of Collaboration: Case IH and Hillco Leveling Systems

The partnership between Case IH and Hillco Technologies has been a transformative force in modern agriculture for the past three decades. This blog explores their ...
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Hillco Technologies Pivoting Spout

What is the Hillco Pivoting Spout? The Hillco Pivoting Spout is an aftermarket attachment designed for John Deere combines. It enhances the unloading process by ...
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Hillco Wrap Twine Remover Benefits  

Hillco Wrap Twine Remover Cattle ranching has been an essential part of human civilization since the beginning of time. With advancements in technology, necessary daily ...
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The Importance Of Airflow

Why are air filters important? Air filters are critical to the performance of combine and tractor engines. They prevent dirt, dust, and other particles from ...
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Harrow Cart Uses and Conditions 

What is the Hillco Harrow Cart? The Hillco Harrow Cart has been engineered and built with a durable design offering 16 bars of flexible harrow. ...
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Pivoting Spout- New and Improved

What size combine does it fit on? The Hillco Pivoting Spout will fit any 17” high unload rate auger. You would also find them on ...
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Sidehill Vs. Hillside

What is the difference between your Hillside and Sidehill Leveling Systems? The simple answer to the question is, the Sidehill will compensate for 18% slope ...
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Hillco Technologies – Through the Years

What is Hillco Technologies? Hillco Technologies is an agriculture manufacturing company that provides innovative solutions. Read more about Hillco Technologies below.  What sets Hillco apart? ...
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The Hillco AFS Corn Screen

What are the benefits of the AFS Corn Screen? Prevents debris buildup which can cause precleaner plugging. Also helps improve the air flow system’s performance ...
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The Spring Tooth Harrow – Ease of Transportation

What is the setup process of the Hillco Spring Tooth? The Hillco model can be hydraulically spread out and set up without getting out of ...
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The Dangers of Net Wrap Ingestion

Can cattle eat net twine?   Cattle cannot digest net wrap. It has a tendency to accumulate in the rumen over time. Most cattle will lose ...
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Hillco Harrow Cart – Raising the Bar on Spike Wear

How durable are the spikes Hillco uses? Very durable. The Spike design offers heavy duty tooth bars and teeth made from high carbon steel.  Why ...
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Not Your Grandfather’s Spring Tooth

Is the Hillco Spring Tooth the same as all the others? The short answer is no, read below to find out the differences.  What is ...
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Guide to Hillco Air Flow Systems

How does the Hillco Air Flow System work? The Hillco kit will replace the stock intake on your Case IH or New Holland equipment. All ...
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Hillco Technologies, Inc. and John Deere introduce the Hillco Single Pass Round Bale System

NEZPERCE, Idaho (August 21, 2014) – Hillco Technologies, Inc., working in developmental partnership with John Deere, has developed a revolutionary new system for harvesting corn ...
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Hillco Single Pass Round Bale System Review

Quality. Efficiency. Sustainability. All in one round bale Tractor.com: Enter Hillco Technologies, Inc., a Nezperce, Idaho manufacturer well-known for its forage leveling systems. Through a ...
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Combining and baling in one pass

Grainews: Joining forces with Hillco Technologies, Deere introduces a single pass round bale system designed to mate to a green combine. At the launch of ...
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Hillco Technologies wins Governor’s Award for Excellence in Agriculture

Hillco Technologies, Inc. is proud to announce that it is the recipient of the 2011 Idaho Governor’s Award for Excellence in Agriculture in the Technical ...
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Leveling Systems Increase Harvest Productivity on Sidehills

Farm Equipment Magazine: The desire for less grain loss and faster harvesting are putting sidehill leveling systems into the sales conversation throughout the Midwest.
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Return on Investment Calculator

This calculator is designed to determine the return on investment for a Hillco leveling system equipped combine versus a non-leveling combine operating in sloping conditions.

Crop Type
Wheat       Corn and Soybean
Acreage Information

Crop Information

Enter your operation's statistics and estimates.
Wheat
Corn
Soybeans

Acreage / Slope Information

Estimate the percentage of total harvested acres that lay within the various slope ranges in your farming operation.
For all Wheat Acreage
See Slope reference chart
Percentage slope values must equal 100%
100%
Your Harvest Speeds and Machine Harvested Yield (MHY)

Non-Leveling Ground Speed in MPH

Enter the average harvesting speed for your non-leveling combine in the various slope ranges at the average yield entered in the Crop Information section above.

Slope Reference Graph
Wheat
Corn
Soy

Reduction in Machine Harvested Yield (bu/acre)

Estimate the reduction of Machine Harvested Yield (MHY) for each slope range if you were harvesting at the speed you entered for 0-3% slopes. (The calcultor will then project expected reductions in MHY for each slope range at your previously estimated ground speeds.)

You may opt to enter the test data which was determined by actual field testing by Hillco (based on 5 mph harvesting speed).

Reduction in MHY is used in these calculations rather than field loss. Reduction in MHY is a more accurate guage of combine harvesting efficiency because it can be determined by actually weighing the harvested yield rather than estimating the amount of yield lost to the ground.

Use test data or your own
Corn
Soy
Your Combine and Header Information
Enter your expected combine harvesting efficiency. Typically a combine operates at approximately 70% efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too small you may want to decrease the combine efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too large you may want to increase the combine efficiency.
Wheat head width in feet
Corn head width in feet
Flex header width in feet
Combine Field Efficiency (Typically 70%)
(Must enter value other than 0%)
Your Operational Costs
This total should include additional cost of benefits and taxes. If you wish to include the grain cart operator's cost add the hourly wage to the combine operator hourly labor costs.
Combine Operator Labor Cost (per hour, including taxes and benefits)
Combine Fuel Cost

If you wish to include added grain cart fuel add hourly grain cart fuel usage to the combine fuel usage.

Combine Fuel Consumption (Hourly - Typically 11-13 gph)

Cost per added separator hour usually runs approximately $180 per hour for new combines to $30 per hour for older used combines. If you don't want to consider the added benefit of lower separator hours enter $0.

Cost Per Separator Hour
(How much does your combine devalue for each added separator hour of use?)

Use example prices below or obtain a quote from your local dealership.

List price examples for leveling systems used on John Deere combines:
Leveling System Model 2955S for -- 9560-70 STS combine dual tire, w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,960.00 List Price

Leveling System Model 2970S for -- 96-97-9860-70 STS combine,dual tire w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,085.00 List Price

List price examples for leveling systems used on Case-IH combines:
Leveling System Model 2800 for -- 2577-88 combine, dual tire w/Hillco Leveler, Installed = $42,210.00 List Price


See examples or call your local dealership for a quote.
(On Leveling System Financing)

Enter the number of years (from 1 to 5, whole number) for the desired calculation period.

Market value at the end of 5 years regardless of the length of the calculation period.

Used in net present value calculation

Cash Flows (Totals for Calculation Period)
Positive Cash Flows
Labor Savings
0
Fuel and Lubcriation Savings
0
Increased Income from Machine Harvested Yield
0
Residual Value of Leveling System (At end of Calculation Period)
0
Increased Combine Value Due to Reduced Separator Hours
0
Total Positive Cash Flows
0
Negative Cash Flows
Leveling System Cost (Total Principle & Interest Payments)
-0
Remaining Principle Balance On 5 Year Note
-0
Leveling System Maintenance Cost (Annual 2% of Purchase Price)
-0
Total Negative Cash Flows
-0
Total Net Cash Flow (Positive - Negative)
0
Investment Analysis
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (without leveling system)
0
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (with leveling system)
0
Average Annual Separator Hour Savings
0
Total Separator Hour Savings as % of Total Separator Hours
0
Average Payback Period (in years)
The length of time it takes for an investment to recover its initial cost.
0
Total Net Present Value of Cash Flows
NPV compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account.
0
Internal Rate of Return
The internal rate of return (IRR) method allows you to consider the time value of money. It is the interest rate that is equivalent to the dollar returns you expect from your project. Once you know the rate, you can compare it to the rates you could earn by investing your money in other projects or investments. Usually a business owner will insist that in order to be acceptable, a project must be expected to earn an IRR that is at least several percentage points higher than the cost of borrowing, to compensate the company for its risk, time, and trouble associated with the project.
0